Sports Tours Cycling Graham Baxter

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Clients from outside the UK....

We have a number of years of experience in taking overseas clients. Each year we take clients from all over the world, United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and numbers are growing.

We no longer post brochures to overseas clients, and in fact we are running down the brochure. More detailed itineraries of tours can be found on this web site and a booking form can be downloaded from the web site. (Adobe Acrobat required)

1. Holiday Prices
Holiday prices are shown in £ Sterling and payment is required in £ Sterling. To give you an idea of the cost in your own curreny please use the current exchange rate for conversion.

2. How can I make a booking? (Overseas Clients)
Print off a booking form from the web site and fax it to us on (+44(0)161 703 8547 or email it to us.
Providing we have availability the booking will be registered at the time we receive your booking form. After that date you will have 5 days to get the 30% (non
refundable) deposit
payment to ourselves by Sterling cheque. If we do not receive payment within 5 days your place will be released for sale.
** All Etape du Tour holidays require a 50% deposit.

How can I make a booking? (UK Clients)
Please complete a booking form for the tour you require. Then post the
booking form and a cheque for your 30% ( non refundable) deposit to our UK office.
** All Etape du Tour holidays require a 50% deposit.

If you are providing your own travel insurance you must complete and enclose the travel insurance disclaimer form with your booking form.
Click here to Download an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version. (4kb)

3. How can we pay for our holiday? (Overseas Clients)
There are a 2 ways you can pay for your holiday:

1. Pounds Sterling cheque. You can arrange this at your bank. Then post along with the booking form to our UK office.

2. Credit Card / Debit Card Payment: (No surcharge for credit card or debit card payments) Then fax the booking form to our UK office.

Visa LogoVisa

Mastercard LogoMastercard

American Express LogoAmerican Express

For further details on booking a tour, please see the How to Book section below.


4. Where can I join the tour?
On tours which depart from the UK by coach, you can meet the coach at any of
our UK pick up points in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, London and service stations on the motorway networks used.

5. Can I meet the tour in Paris?
On tours that overnight in Paris on the departure day, Yes you can meet the tour in Paris. We normally break the travelling with an overnight stay in Paris.
You can arrange to meet the group at our overnight hotel in Paris:

Hotel Mercure Porte de Versailles Expo
36 – 38 Rue du Moulin
92174 Vanves
Tel: (0)1 46 48 55 55 (00 33 from overseas

Fax: (0)1 46 48 55 56 (00 33 from overseas)

Email: h0375@accor-hotels.com
Web Site: http://www.mercure.com (hotel code 0375)

If you choose to meet the group in Paris, please indicate this on your booking form under PICK UP POINT REQUIRED.

We do not collect at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, unless stated on the tour itinerary

6. Is there a discount for meeting in Paris?
No since you will be taking a full fare passengers seat.

7. Can we hire bikes?
No, we don't hire bikes on our tours. If you wish to ride during the tour you must bring your own bike in a bike box or bike bag.

8. Can I bring my bike case?
Yes, bike cases/boxes and bike bags are allowed providing they fit within the following dimensions

Height: No more than 85cm
Width: No more than 30cm
Length: No more than 115cm

We have found that the Trico & Performance bike cases work well.

9. Do I need to take your travel insurance?
We highly recommend travel insurance, although we do not sell it ourselves.
See below for more details.
You must arrange adequate insurance for your bicycle and other possessions as these are your responsibility and Sports Tours International cannot take any liability for these as we do not have an “insurable interest” in your possessions, should anything happen to them.

10. Are Children allowed?
We accept children on our tours who are over 8 years old. For our training camps we accept children of all ages.

Coaches....

On coach based tours, we only use coaches equipped with air conditioning, reclining seats, on board toilet, video and drinks dispenser.

BIKE TRANSPORT
On the following tours: (ALL TOUR DE FRANCE, GIRO, VUELTA) which allow bikes to be taken we will now be using specific bike carrying trailer, where by your bike is stored and carried safely whilst fully assembled. You will be able to store your bike case / bike bag at the first overnight hotel for the duration of the tour and collect it on the last night.

For the following tours: (ALL SPRING CLASSICS, ALL RANDONNEES, ETAPE DU TOUR, CLASSIC CYCLING EVENTS) we will be using a box trailer where your bike is stored safely in a bike cases / bike box, providing they fit within the following dimensions

Height: No more than 85cm
Width: No more than 30cm
Length: No more than 115cm

We have found that the Trico & Performance bike cases work well.

COACH SEATING
We operate a coach seat reservation system so that we can guarantee that parties of 2 or more will be seated together.

Hotel accommodation....

Your comfort is our priority throughout. SPORTS TOURS INTERNATIONAL have made careful selection of all our hotels based on the convenience to venues and facilities offered.The quality of hotels are indicated in the tour itinerary. Most hotels selected are of a 3* standard minimum unless otherwise stated. Sometimes we are forced to use quality 2* hotels if there are no 3* hotels available within a convenient location to the venue. All rooms are equipped with private bath/shower and toilet, T.V. and telephone in the rooms.
Occasionally, it may be necessary to substitute one hotel for another of similar standard. Only in exceptional circumstances will we make such an alteration, but we reserve the right to do so.

1. What does Single, Twin & Double room mean?
Single room is a room for 1 person. There is normally a supplement for single room occupancy
Twin room is a room for 2 persons with 2 single beds in the room
Double room is a room for couples with 1 Large bed in the room

2. What if I am travelling by myself. Do I have to pay the single room supplement?
No. If you are travelling alone, don't be put off by expensive single room supplements, we can arrange for you to share with another member of the touring party who is also travelling alone. If you wish to share a room with another member of the touring party, please tick TWIN on the room type required box.

3. What does half board accommodation mean?
Half board accommodation means that evening meal, bed & breakfast are included in the price. Breakfast is normally of a help yourself buffet style if not otherwise stated. If breakfast is indicated as continental this means that only juice, bread, croissant & coffee will be provided.

Tour couriers....
All our tours are accompanied by an experienced courier who will ensure that the day to day organisation runs smoothly. They will also be active club cyclists and are on tour to be good company and share your common interest. They may not necessarily speak a foreign language.
How to book....

Download a booking form and CLEARLY complete all sections of the booking form not forgetting to sign your agreement to the booking conditions. You are then required fax it to us+44(0)161 703 8547 or email it to us.
Providing we have availability the booking will be registered at the time we receive your booking form. After that date you will have 5 days to get the 30% payment to ourselves by Sterling cheque.
If we do not receive payment within 5 days your place will be released for sale.
Bookings made within 12 weeks prior to the date of travel require full payment.

1. What happens after I have made a booking?
Upon receipt of your booking form and payment we shall send you a booking confirmation invoice showing the amount of deposit we have received and the remaining balance that is due and the date it is due by.

2. Do I receive a reminder for the final balance?
No, we don't send reminders for the final balance. The final balance is due 12 weeks prior to the date of the trip and this date is indicated on the booking invoice receipt. Bookings may be cancelled if the final payment is not made by this date.

Your money is safe....
Sports Tours International is protected by the ATOL arrangements when you book your holiday or travel, that includes flights and accommodation. Our ATOL number is 2711. Where you book a non-air inclusive holiday, and we act as the principal, your money is financially protected by our ABTA bonding arrangements. Our tour operating ABTA number is V1479.
Tour documentation....
Your tour documentation and itinerary will be posted (UK only) and emailed (OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS) 2 weeks prior to the date of travel. Your tour maps will be handed out when you meet the tour.
Travel insurance....

Sports Tours International is happy to introduce you the following insurance that has been arranged for us by Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd and which is underwritten by AXA Insurance UK plc. This insurance has been specifically designed so that it covers all of the holidays that we feature, protecting you in full if you have to cancel and providing you with the very best and most effective protection if you are unfortunate enough to require medical insurance whilst away from home. Don’t take unnecessary risks by insuring your holiday anywhere else as we cannot accept any responsibility or provide assistance if problems arise as a result of inadequate cover.

We act as an Introducer Appointed Representative for the purposes of your travel insurance, appointed by Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority whose status can be checked on the FSA register by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA on 0854 606 1234.
Address for correspondence: Amelia House, Crescent Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1RL. Phone 01903 203933. Fax 01903 211106. SPO09@globaltravelinsurance.co.uk

If you have a complaint about the sale of this insurance you must first write to the managing Director of Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd. Subsequently, complaints may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. If we are unable to meet our liabilities you may be entitled to compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

You can obtain a quotation and arrange your own insurance online by clicking on the link below. Beyond providing this information, we are not allowed to assist you in any way in the arrangement of your travel insurance or give any advice. Other than by way of this information, you will not receive advice or recommendation. You will need to make your own choice about how to proceed.

Click here for insurance

Flights....
Where Sports Tours International arranges flights for cyclists, the company cannot accept responsibility for the flight carrier failing to carry the cycle on the same flight. The company will do everything in its power to expedite speedy delivery, but this is outside the control of the company.
Tour Content....
Whilst we try very hard to deliver your tour itinerary as specified at the time of booking, sometimes circumstances beyond our control may prevent us from providing the exact tour itinerary that is advertised and in such circumstances we do not assume liability for any loss of the advertised elements of the itinerary. Please see our terms and conditions for further details.

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